Ace Combat: Gryphon Assault

One week later

August 8, 2016

45 miles off the Akaelian coast,

Northwest of Talon Bay

Task Force 121 was now in position for the amphibious assault ships to land their embarked troops ashore in the first offensive campaign against the enemy.

Task Force 129 would provide support using aircraft from the carriers, and gunfire from the other warships, including the battleships ERNS Celestia and ERNS Luna.

This operation would be code-named “Operation Hoof-Stomp”.

On the flight decks of two of the Arcadian ships; AFS Portal, AFS Stargate,  MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters were being loaded up with infantry for the coming assault, on the other two Arcadian ships; AFS Hellspawn, AFS Hellgate, F-35B VSTOL strike fighters on the Hellspawn, and AH-74B Crossbow gunships on the Hellgate got ready for takeoff.

The story was the same for the CH-46 Sea Knights, EH-101 Merlin and MV-22C Ospreys on the Equestrian ships ERNS Barnyard, ERNS Stable, and AV-8B Harrier IIs .

In the well decks, the Barnyard and Stable loaded their three LCACs (per ship) with 4 FV510 Warrior IFVs, while the Hellspawn and Hellgate loaded their 2 LCACs (per ship) with 4 M1126 Striker IFVs.

The ERNS Canterlot and ERNS Swayback loaded their LCACs with 1 Leopard II tank, while the AFS Portal and AFS Stargate loaded theirs with M1A3 Abrams tanks.

Once launched, the LCACs all lined up and prepared to advance towards the beach.  The helicopters and jets started up their engines and waited for the order to take off.

Meanwhile, The battleships ERNS Luna and ERNS Celestia were moving into position to provide fire support.

They would fire the first shots, destroying enemy coastal bunkers to facilitate the amphibious landings while C-17 and C-130 transports would drop paratroops in deep behind enemy lines, with vehicles being deployed by waves of LCACs.

The first wave of transports, consisting of 5 Arcadian Air Force (AAF) C-17s and 7 ERAF C-17s were thirty minutes out.

The area where Talon Air Base was was chosen as the landing site because the radar stations in the area were already destroyed by the strike that took out the base, and thus whatever radar stations were set up to replace them were relatively few in numbers.

On the Kestrel, Robert and his squadron was preparing for the coming fight.  Each aircraft was loaded with 4 GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) 2,000-pound GPS-guided bombs, 4 AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seekers, and a single AIM-120D AMRAAM, as well as a center-line-mounted external fuel tank.

“Here we go...” Robert muttered as he taxied onto the #1 catapult.  A flight of E/A-18G Growlers and a flight of EA-6B Prowlers would go in first, carrying out a SEAD mission to eliminate enemy air defenses in the area (i.e. AAA and SAM sites and radar stations).

Robert's flight would then fly in and destroy any enemy bunkers located further inland, out of range of the battleships' guns.  Other targets, such as communications facilities and the like, would be hit by the cruisers and destroyers using BGM-109 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAM).

“All units, this is Task Force Lead, Hoof-stomp.  I say again, Hoof-stomp!  Make us proud!” the Arcadian task force

commander, Admiral Jack Dickson ordered from the flagship of the fleet, AFS Kestrel.

Robert watched from the flight deck as the flight of Growlers launched from the Kestrel's sister ship, AFS Aquaria.  On the starboard side of the Kestrel, the flight of Prowlers launched from ERNS Honesty.

Both flights were loaded with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.  On the ERNS Harmony, a group of 10 BQM-74E Chukar drones were launched from the flight deck.

Their purpose was to have the enemy air defenses pick them up, revealing their position with their emissions and as they fired on the drones, the SEAD aircraft would target them with their HARMs.

The drones flew close to the coastline and sure enough, the enemy SAM defenses began targeting them.  The Growlers were then able to acquire them and lock them up with their HARMs.

“Sanitizer One, magnum!” the lead Growler pilot called out as he fired a HARM.  The other three Growlers fired a HARM at an enemy SAM site.

The Prowlers than began jamming the enemy radar sites that had been recently set up to cover the gap that had been opened up by the strike on Talon Air Base.

The Growlers then destroyed the radar sites before the enemy could react.  Both flights turned back towards the carrier after all anti-aircraft defenses in the area had been destroyed, only 4 drones were lost to SAM fire.

The LCACs were now cleared to advance towards the beach.  At the same time, a MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter drone was launched from the destroyer AFS Gladiator as a forward observer for the battleships.  “All ships, fire at will!” Admiral Dickson ordered.  At that moment, both Equestrian battleships, which had already locked in their targets, fired all of their guns, creating a deafening boom that could be heard all over the surrounding area.  The targets, a line of coastal bunkers, were decimated by the barrage.

On the amphibious ships, all of the helicopters launched, the gunships taking point to cover the transports.  They all created a wall of helicopters that advanced towards the beach, a line of LCACs moving in below.

The gunships fired a wave of Hellfire missiles at a line of T-80 tanks that had formed up on the beach.

A pair of ERAF A-10Cs flew in and strafed the enemy tanks with their GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannons.

Within 30 seconds, the area was clear and the LCACs came ashore, deflating their skirts and lowering their ramps, allowing the vehicles on board to drive off.

At the same time, the 12 C-17s were approaching the beach.  They were at 9,000 feet and in formation to deploy the infantry inside via HALO jumps.

“This is it, y'all!  Once we git on the ground, rally up at this location near the drop zone!” Applejack said as she pointed out the rally point on her map.

Spike was stoked, he was finally going to get payback for Akael's incursion into Equestria.  A signal light changed from red to yellow as the C-17's cargo ramp opened up.

“Twenty seconds to drop point!” the pilot said as the ramp finished opening.  Applejack's squad got up and lined up to jump.

“Ten seconds!” the pilot announced as the squad finished getting into position.  Applejack stared with determination at the ground below.  “Mark!” the pilot announced as they reached the drop point.

“GO!  GO! GO!!” Applejack shouted as she and her squad began to jump out of the aircraft.

As she fell, Applejack could see tracers from enemy anti-aircraft emplacements streaking up at the transports, but the number of mounts firing decreased as they were being destroyed by allied gunships.

At 3,000 feet, Applejack and her squad deployed their parachutes to slow their descent as they approached their drop zone.

Upon landing, Applejack readied her weapon and ran to the rally point: a nearby abandoned house.  Applejack watched as her squad landed nearby and gathered at the house near her.

“OK, y'all, our objective is to take out the enemy artillery outpost before they can cause severe damage to our guys.  The artillery base is located here, two clicks north of our position, we'll have full air support and allied reinforcements will be with us as we push on.  They'll be doing their own jobs, but will not hesitate to help out if we need it, so don't hesitate to call for support if needed, oorah? Alright, let's git movin'!” Applejack ordered as she explained the situation.

They formed up and began moving towards their objective.  A Fire Scout UAV picked up a group of hostile infantry in a village 200 yards from the squad's position.

Applejack ordered her squad to hold position behind a nearby warehouse.  “Alpha-Six, this is Command, be advised, an Arcadian AC-130 is en-route to provide air support, it'll be in your airspace in ten.” Command said.

“Roger that, we'll call them if needed, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack replied.

Suddenly, the enemy soldiers began firing at Applejack's squad.  “LIGHT 'EM UP!” Applejack ordered as she and her squad returned fire.

She gunned down three enemy soldiers before their fire forced her back behind cover.  One of her squad members, an earth pony named Shooter, began letting loose with his M249P SAW, cutting down several enemy soldiers with the spray of bullets.  Applejack used this to take down five more enemies.

Just then, she spotted a gryphon soldier wielding a long tube with a green object at the end.  Her eyes grew wide when she recognized the object as an RPG-7.

“GIT DOWN, RPG!” she ordered.

The squad members ran for cover as the enemy soldier fired the RPG.  An explosion rang out 5 yards from Applejack's position as the rocket struck the ground, showering her with debris.

She looked to see two of her squad members' bodies shredded by the explosion.

Spike took out the enemy soldier that had the RPG and raced to cover Applejack.

Several more enemy soldiers came up and Spike gunned them all down while Applejack reloaded.

“Alpha-Six, be advised, UAV is showing multiple BTRs headed your way!” Command warned.

“Roger that!” Applejack replied.

Spike got out his FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile launcher as he used his eyes to scan the area for BTRs.